P1 - Describe the impact of HCI on society, the economy and culture

Unit 23 - Human Computer Interface, Assignment 1.
George King - 11162744

P1 - Describe the impact of HCI on society, the economy and culture.

  Human Computer Interface (HCI) is used to describe how people interact with computers and other technological devices. Innovations in computers have led to more ways in which we communicate with our devices - over time these have changed the way we live our lives. One of most common HCI technologies in use today is the Graphic User Interface (GUI), this is allows people to use animations and pictures to interact and operate the computer.

Here is an example GUI used on computers and laptops - Windows 7.

Impact on Society

  Our lives in general have been changed by the advances in modern Human Computer Interaction, and the technology that uses it. 

Touch GUI (Graphical User Interface)

  A touch screen is essentially a collection of images and text on an electronic screen, by pressing the screen on the selected images - this then acts as the input method for the device. Hand-held devices such as smart phones, tablets and PDAs have now adopted this modern technology - touch screen technology replacing physical keys as the normal input method. Some interfaces are easily recognizable to most people today, the touch screen interface used by apple is an iconic computer interface - this specialised interface, along with the touch screen aspect makes using devices more simple than in the past. 

The only downside to devices that just use touch screen monitors is that users with hand disabilities won't be able to use it - however, most users will be able to benefit from its enhanced usability   

A user in the image above is showing how they interact with a touch screen monitor to input information onto a device. 

Augmented Reality (AR)

  Recently, scientists have been wanting to change the way we interact with computers with use of augmented reality. AR is where you use physical hardware to view real-world environments with an overlay of augmented graphics, sounds and information. The technologies comprises of a camera to record the environment and a display to show that environment with the over-laid information. Though a very recent technology, it is already being used in some instances and professions in society, such as; Medical, navigation, architecture, military and sports. This human computer interaction is the closest we have gotten to amalgamating the real world to the virtual world. Furthermore, I can see the positive impacts that this can have on society, by providing additional information on real-world environments, soon, devices will be able to permanently display virtual information within the real world.

Prototype augmented reality software is being demonstrated here, a user is able to use this software to navigate their environment. 

Impact on Economy

  Relating to business and organisations, Human Computer interaction has changed the way in which business is handled and managed. The three aspects of these changes are productivity, increased automation and the working environment - all of which contribute to how HCI has changed the business industry. 

Desktop GUI (Graphical User Interface)

  Organisations quickly started to use computers as part of their infer-structure, they saw the potential that employees could use them to produce their work. However, original computers used 'command based' interfaces - which where complex and unappealing to the eye. When the graphical user interface became readily available, organisations quickly saw to implement this new technology. With employees having dozens of tools at their disposal, and with simpler displays, they needed less teaching on how to use them. The overall affect that GUI has had on the economy is that individuals now produce more work.   

Voice Control Software
  

  This software is used along side a microphone and speaker to provide and auditory interaction with a computer. Industries have implemented voice control systems in some areas of their organisations. Disabled employees who previously couldn't interact with computers can now do so via the use of their voice. In some instances, employees who aren't disabled could still benefit from using voice control as it offers hands free interaction between the user and the computer.  

Here is a hardware and software combination which can be used to operate a computer through your voice. 

Impact on Culture

Mobile Devices

  Most people today carry some sort of electrical device in their day-to-day lives, everything from smart phones, iPod's and BlackBerry are common in today's society. The interface of a mobile device such as smart phone has to be careful designed, to incorporated all the features needed to make it a smart phone, whilst making the interface small enough to be carried around. As mentioned previously, touch screen technology helps to eliminate the need for bulky buttons, by replacing these buttons with an interactive touch screen. This amalgamation of technologies have affected the culture of today (of all generations) as most people now carry a device of this type. Integrated into the interface of mobile devices is the ability to connect to the internet with one or two clicks, this combined with Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G technologies make for fats internet connection from around the world.  

Apple has created one of most iconic human computer interfaces in the world,  people around the world no how to use its interface. Therefore these has changed the way people see modern mobile technologies, as people will be more familiar with this interface. 

De-skilling work

  On the other hand, not all of the impacts of HCI are positive on the culture today, for example, some people may argue that due to the ease and simplicity of interfaces in the work place, key skills are being lost. In the past, everything had to be done by hand, skilled men and women would work and make almost everything needed for day-to-day life, overtime, machines and computers have been taking over as workforce behind industries. Now more then ever, the interaction between human and computers is less than in previous years (mainly on industry machines and computers). This is because computers are becoming more self reliant and intelligent, so less people are needed to operate the same amount of machinery. 

  Organisations would see a positive outlook on this, less people are needed to have the same, if not more level of output. Cheaper computers and running costs mean that organisations don't need to pay people for training costs and their wages. Here is a supporting article describing how technologies are the main reasons for jobs being de-skilled: http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/soc/courses/soc4jj3/stuweb/pbl_3/skills.htm 

Some factories have taken this concept to next level, having entire factories with no humans in - everything is operated by computers and machinery.